When you’re in the military, life can change quickly. You could be deployed or relocated to a new duty base or assigned to temporary duty. You could be promoted, with an increase in pay grade. You could marry, have children, or get divorced.
The more you expect things to change, the more important it is to be in good shape, personally, professionally, and financially. Being financially fit is what this guide is about—how the choices you make about spending, saving, and investing your money can mean a huge difference in your life, now and in the future.
No matter how well you plan, the unexpected can always happen. Insurance policies can help protect you in case it does. The US government offers low-cost health and life insurance options exclusively to servicemembers, veterans, and their families. To find out more about these plans, visit www.tricare.mil for health coverage and visit the VA’s Insurance website at www.insurance.va.gov for life insurance.
But you many vets have Medicare as well and don’t take advantage of the coverage for themselves as well as their families. The benefits between Medicare and Veterans Affairs don’t correlate, so partnering with a Medicare professional who has a solid understanding of Vet benefits is highly recommended.
If you own a home or a car, you’ll need insurance to cover loss and liability. Some insurers are more reputable than others, so get impartial advice before you select an insurer.
Lightbulb Press contributions are published with permission.
Most people have a predisposition about risk. It’s generally environmental and based on family upbringing. That doesn’t mean it’s necessarily right, it’s just where you are, depending upon your financial literacy. Whether you know it or not, you ...
Released On: 12/27/2019
Views: 1979
There are mortality averages based on actuarial statistics that can approximate the life expectancy of the general population at large. But “averages” don’t address half of those who will exceed the norms. The more data you put into determining y ...
Released On: 12/26/2019
Views: 1895
For most wage earners and retirees taxes are the biggest expense they’ll ever have over their lifetime. Managing your tax bill effectively is learning to become a “gamer,” by avoiding tax traps and snares along life’s journey. You have to know th ...
Released On: 12/25/2019
Views: 1821
It’s rather stunning to discover that most baby boomers have never had a budget in their life, but they’re going to need one in retirement. Retirement may be the biggest motivator for most Americans to create a budget because retirees live month ...
Released On: 12/24/2019
Views: 1924
Life just happens, but there are predictable events common to most in our culture and most of those events have a financial impact. Planning for those predictable events can prepare you to meet many of these obligations. The life event checklist ...
Released On: 12/23/2019
Views: 2009
The Mortality Revolution may very well be the final frontier in mankind’s quest to beat death. So far, the grim reaper has won every time, but new timelines are emerging in human longevity that are delaying the inevitable. Prepare yourself for l ...
Released On: 12/20/2019
Views: 1814
Living longer is exacerbating over a dozen other retirement risks that threaten the vast majority of retirees and those near retirement. If the status quo continues, the retirement lifestyle of most seniors will be severely pared back. Watch the ...
Released On: 12/19/2019
Views: 1856
Most of the retirement plans currently operational have a significant flaw. They’ve grossly underestimated the increase in life expectancy over the last generation. But government and military pensions are in the greater financial jeopardy, becau ...
Released On: 12/18/2019
Views: 1835
The law of large numbers and changing demographics of life expectancy is having a significant impact on guaranteed lifetime annuities. Annuity manufacturers are touting their alpha with mortality credits and receiving newfound interest among fina ...
Released On: 12/17/2019
Views: 1845
The last 100 years have seen a significant increase in human longevity compared to the earliest records of mankind. The spike in longevity has caught the Western world by surprise. The effects of this revolution are affecting financial planning a ...
Released On: 12/16/2019
Views: 1803
There was a time when Social Security benefits were not exposed to ordinary income taxation. But over the years, small incremental steps were taken to tax the benefits. Maybe “means testing” may be implemented to shore up the vulnerable Social Se ...
Released On: 12/13/2019
Views: 1495
Collateralized loans are not characterized as income and are not reportable, as such, on your 1040 form. And because these loans are not forms of taxable income, they are not counted for the provisional income test for Social Security taxation. W ...
Released On: 12/12/2019
Views: 1960
Retirement, as it is today, is inherently crippled by taxes. You may very well have one million dollars in your retirement plan, but Uncle Sam may own up to 40% of it. Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Roth IRAs need to be reconsidered as a first ...
Released On: 12/11/2019
Views: 1765
Most American workers don’t comprehend the realities of retirement until they’re a few years from retirement date, which is often too late. They’re just too busy dealing with immediate financial pressures to understand the long-haul consequences ...
Released On: 12/10/2019
Views: 1797
Retirement will undergo a drastic reinvention as the newest generation redefines it's golden years in their investment habits and senior lifestyle goals. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAdtMWBaseY&feature=youtu.be
Released On: 12/9/2019
Views: 1761
Your retirement account is only as big as your tax planning strategy. Your personal exemptions and standard deductions in retirement will not be enough to offset your tax bill. Tax management must be a major component of your retirement plan. Wat ...
Released On: 12/6/2019
Views: 1860
If you have longevity in your family, guaranteed income for life is a must consideration. If you think it’s reasonable that medical advances will impact your longevity, then guaranteed income for life may need to be in your retirement plan. Watch ...
Released On: 12/5/2019
Views: 1720
A happy retirement is based on math and science, not on wishful thinking and hoping things turn out right. You need to eliminate debt and risk in retirement and secure reliable income to generate the peace of mind that seniors desire in their gol ...
Released On: 12/4/2019
Views: 1469